Life is a Garden | South Africa |

October is the time to celebrate the really good warm weather. It is a lovely time to sow seeds in the garden. Long ago, people planted seeds of crops when the moon was in a certain phase. They thought the plants would grow better, and some did! Scientists are still studying the moon's effect on plants.

Hopefully young gardeners all have their own patch in Mum and Dad's garden. If you don't, suggest to your parents that they give you a patch for your birthday or for Christmas. Gardening is a hobby that everyone in your family can take part in, and once you learn how to make things grow, it is an activity you can have fun with for the rest of your life.

Plants grow from seeds - even towering trees started from seeds. Each seed contains the beginning of a new plant and enough food to start its life. As the plant inside the seed grows, it pushes its way out of the seed. It needs air and water to do this.

As soon as the tiny plant gets roots, it needs more food than was stored inside the seed. Now it is ready to take food from the soil. It does this through the tiny hairs that grow on the roots. From the roots it moves up into the stem and then to all parts of the plant.

Your own tools

Before you lay out your garden, you will need some tools to work your soil. You can save old forks, spoons and kitchen scoops. Scissors are useful when you are taking cuttings or clipping away seedlings to thin a row. You will also need something to carry your garden tools out to your work area.

Plants need to be watered when the soil seems dry. You can make your own watering-can by cutting away the top part of a plastic milk bottle with scissors and punching holes in the front with a large nail.

You are going to need plant labels to identify your plants. Cut strips from the side of a plastic bottle and print the name with a permanent marker. Or you can cut aluminium strips from an aluminium pan such as one from frozen foods. Use a ballpoint pen to write on the metal.

With the weather being so hot your little plants will need some protection and you can make little plant hats from the top of a plastic milk bottle. Cut away the bottom and cut slits up the sides to make a simple cover for your tiny seedling that have just begun growing. Spread the slits apart and push the ends into the soil around the plant. When the plants are stronger put the hats away for next year.

Preparing your flower bed

Outdoor gardens, whether plots of ground or big containers like tubs and window boxes, require a certain amount of planning. The earliest garden plan is a map of an Egyptian garden drawn about 3 400 years ago. It had walkways and four ponds for ducks!

Start by drawing the outline of your garden patch on a blank sheet of paper. Mark which direction is north and which parts of the garden will be shaded by trees. A good size for a beginner garden is 2m x 2m.

Make a list of the plants you wish to grow, and check the seed packets for the following information:

• How much space will each plant need in your garden?
• How much sun or shade does each plant need?
• How long does each seed take to germinate?
• How long does it take for each plant to grow?

Now you are ready to get down to the hard work! Look over the garden spot and make sure that the soil is dry.

• Step 1. Dig over the soil by lifting it and turning it over with a spade. Then break up all the clods with a rake.
  
  
• Step 2. Pick out any rocks or sticks and then rake the area smooth.
  
  
• Step 3. Use your finger to carve a shallow trench to put the seeds in. To produce straight rows cut a piece of string a little longer than the length you want the row to be. Knot each end to a stick. Push one end into the ground at one end of the row, and then take the other end with you to the opposite end of the row. As you dig a trench and plant seeds, follow the string and your row will be straight. Move the sticks and string from row to row as you work across the garden.
  
  
• Step 4. Follow the directions on your seed packet. It will tell you exactly how far apart to put the seeds and how deep to plant them. Sow your seeds as indicated.
  
  
• Step 5. Now label the row and with a plant label so that you will know what has been planted while you are waiting for the tiny plants to appear!
  
  
• Step 6. Water the patch well.